Apheloria tigana, known as the yellow-and-black flat millipede, is a large North American flat-backed millipede in the family Xystodesmidae. It is reported to secrete cyanide compounds as a defense. It is recommended that one wash hands after handling this organism as the toxic compounds it secretes are poisonous and can cause extreme irritation if rubbed in the eyes.
| Apheloria tigana | |
|---|---|
| |
| Mating pair in captivity | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
| Class: | Diplopoda |
| Order: | Polydesmida |
| Family: | Xystodesmidae |
| Genus: | Apheloria |
| Species: | A. tigana
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| Binomial name | |
| Apheloria tigana Chamberlin, 1939
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| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Apheloria aspila Chamberlin, 1939 | |
Characteristics include yellow paranota (lateral segmental expansions on the dorsa), a yellow mid-dorsal spot on the anterior margin of the collum or 1st segment, and yellow mid-dorsal spots on the caudal-most 3-5 segments. South of the Cape Fear River basin there is an undescribed Apheloria species with yellow middorsal marks on most segments.[2]
Apheloria tigana occurs in the Eastern United States, from southeastern North Carolina northward throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b Hoffman, Richard L. 1999. Checklist of the millipeds of North and Middle America. Virginia Museum of Natural History Special Publications 8, p. 294
- ^ "Genus or species? - Apheloria tigana". Iowa State University Department of Entomology. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
External links
edit- "Apheloria tigana Chamberlin, 1939". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- Apheloria tigana - BugGuide
- Millipedes (Diplopoda)
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